[Valanthia L'Evienne]

She gave the barest of nods. "Yes. Yes there will be...be more Virkyn in the summer." She felt like she ought to offer something else, but she had so little to offer. "It's...yes, it's winter here too. It's Kalendryas," she added lamely.

Then the hardness returned to Val. "Do you...do you know why I came back?" It wasn't a question meant for him to answer, but she let it dangle in the air for a moment before she went on. "No one made me. I didn't...didn't have to come back at the Sundering. But I...I did. I did it for us, for the Sanguine, sure, but not...not for some sort of abstract concept. I did it for...for my friends. For my father, whom I loved." Her voice quivered. "I did it for you. For us."

"The Zali'mau came, this past time." Now she was all ice. "It is to...to bring us together, you said. My sisters, those who ought to...to be my friends...you know what they call me? Vyssie...stinking vyssie. As if somehow, the taint that I carry is...is my fault, as if I had never been what I was...what I once was. And when I finally lost -- I think I could win next time, if I wish...I've got some more ideas...but I didn't execute well enough this time -- when Ailisah Davian wedged my head between her boots and the floor...she told me she wanted to rip my throat out...that I'm filthy and always was...that I carry the sins of my father...that it's all his fault." There was a time when she would have been in tears here, but instead, she was simply glacial.

"And you." The same coldness was now focused entirely on him. "We are...are bonded. I made you...made you more promises than anyone. You...we...we loved each other. I think. I mean...last time..." Her voice almost broke, and she shook her head violently. "You have given the gift you saved for me to another, and...I'm dead, I can't begrudge you that, much as it...it hurts. But I've...I've saved my gift for you, saved it...through eras and patterns and centuries...for you. But you...don't want it. You would have me...have me throw it to someone at random. If you...if you don't want my gifts...if you don't want me...why should I bring us...together again? Better a story with no ending at all than...one that ends in sadness."

She couldn't go on, not immediately, and so she blinked twice and stared at him. She did not move to touch Umbrosus.